Part One

On how Allah bestowed honor upon Muhammad (s), by giving precedence to his Prophethood. Also, on the purity of his lineage, the signs that accompanied his conception, birth, and upbringing.

The Creation of His Blessed Soul

When Allah made the Divine decree to bring Creation into existence, He brought forth the Muhammadan Reality from His Lights. He then pulled away from this Reality all the worlds, upper and lower. Allah then informed Muhammad of his Prophethood, while Adam was nothing but soul and body. Then from him gushed forth the springs of the souls, making him superior to all created things, and the greater father to all things in existence. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (s) said that Allah wrote the Destinies of the Creation fifty thousands years before He created the Heavens and Earth, and His Throne was on the Water, and among the things that have been written in the Dhikr, which is the Mother of the Book, is that Muhammad (s) is the Seal of Prophets. Al Irbadh ibn Sariya, said that the Prophet (s) said, “According to Allah, I am the Seal of the Prophets, while Adam was still in clay.”

Maysara Al Dhabbi (r) said he asked the Prophet (s), “Oh, Messenger of Allah, when did you become a prophet?” He (s) answered, “While Adam was still between the soul and the body.”

Suhail bin Salih Al Hamadani said, “I asked Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ali (r), ‘How did Prophet Muhammad (s) precede the other prophets when he is the last to be sent?’ Abu Ja`far (r) answered that when Allah drew forth the children of Adam and made them testify concerning Himself (answering His question, ‘Am I not your Lord?’), Muhammad (s) was the first to answer ‘Yes!’ Therefore, he preceded all the prophets, even though he is the last to be sent.”

Al Shaykh Taqiy al Deen Al Subki comments on this hadith saying that since Allah created souls before bodies, Muhammad’s (s) saying, “I was a prophet,” is a reference to his sanctified soul, to his reality; and our minds fall short of understanding these realities. No one can understand them except the One who created them, and those whom Allah has supported with divine light.

So, Allah has bestowed prophethood upon the soul of the Prophet (s) before even the creation of Adam; for He created it thus, and He blessed immeasurably this creation, writing Muhammad’s (s) name on the Heavenly Throne, and informing the angels and others of His high esteem for him. Thus, Prophet Muhammad’s (s) reality has existed ever since, even though his body came later. Al Shi`bi related that a man said: “O, Messenger of Allah, when did you became a prophet?” He said: “when Adam was between the soul and the body, when the covenant was taken from me”. Thus he (s) is the first of the prophets to be created, and the last to be sent.

It was narrated that the Prophet (s) was the only one to be drawn forth from the loins of Adam before his soul was blown into him, because he (s), is the cause for the creation of mankind, he (s) is their master, their substance, their extraction, and the diadem of their necklace.

Ali ibn Abi Talib (r) and Ibn Abbas (r) both narrated that the Prophet (s) said, “Allah has never sent a prophet, from Adam onward, unless he took from Him the covenant regarding Muhammad (s): if Muhammad (s) is sent in that Prophet’s lifetime, he was to believe in him and support him, and that prophet was to take this covenant to his people as well.

It has been narrated that when Allah created the light of our Prophet Muhammad (s), He ordered him to look at the lights of the other prophets. His light covered them, and Allah had them talk and they said, “Oh, our Lord, who is covering us with his light?” Allah replied, “This is the light of Muhammad Ibn Abdullah; if you believe in him I will make you prophets.” They said, “We believe in him and in his prophethood.” Allah’said, “Shall I be your witness?” They said, “Yes.” Allah’said, “Do you agree, and take this My covenant as binding on you?” They said, “We agree.” He said, “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses” (3-81). This is the meaning of Allah’s saying. “Behold, Allah took the covenant of the prophets, saying, I give you a book and wisdom, then comes to you a Messenger, confirming what is with you; believe in him and render him help.”